Invasive questions by doctors

[Ogre]

Indeed, that's what I was referring to, the National Socialist Health Care system coming quite soon.

What I find quite telling about the system is how you will be jailed. They will not permit you to go to jail for not having health insurance. That would make the government look bad. Instead, you will be fined by the IRS, and the fine will be added to your taxes. If you do not prove to the IRS that you have government approved health insurance, the IRS will require you to pay more "taxes." If you do not pay that additional tax, then you will be jailed for failure to pay taxes, NOT for failure to buy government-approved health insurance.

[ny2nh]

I inquired the other day at the practice I work for if we require patients show an ID each time they come - or was this law.

It was part of the "red flag" law passed last year - although it was pulled back as far as health care providers go - but may be put back in place in May of this year. The red flag laws consider health care providers to be creditors because we technically are extending credit by allowing you to not pay the portion of the fee that will likely be paid by your insurance company.

Our practice continues to ask for ID, because we're likely going to have to comply again in a few months and changing policy back and forth is just a pain in the butt.

Please note - I don't agree with this law, but I thought I would post what I had learned since the subject had been brought up.

On the flip side, I can also appreciate the possibility of medical identity theft - and showing ID does likely help to prevent that. I know I don't want someone using my name to get medical care - and having THEIR medical details added to MY medical records!

Now, if you are paying cash 100% of the time, I don't think the red flag laws should apply....and the chance of medical identity theft would be lessened.....but I can also appreciate that a practice could see 100's of people on a given day - they can't possibly remember who is who all of the time....and it would be fairly reasonable to expect the practice's policies would be applied to all patients.

[Pat McCotter]

From the AMA:

Red Flags Rule
Protect your Patients, Protect Your Practice: What You Need to Know about the Red Flags Rule

Compliance Date: June 1, 2010

Update: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed the compliance deadline of the Red Flags Rule until June 1, 2010.  The AMA will utilize this time to convince the FTC and Congress to republish the rule so that there is sufficient opportunity to formally comment and state the AMA's objections to physician inclusion in the program.

In Nov. 2007, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a set of regulations, known as the "Red Flags Rule," requiring that certain entities develop and implement written identity theft prevention and detection programs to protect consumers from identity theft. Originally scheduled for a Nov. 1, 2008 compliance date, the FTC has now delayed the enforcement date of the Red Flags Rule until June 1, 2010. The new compliance date of June 1, 2010, which follows three earlier extensions to May 1, August 1 and then later to Nov. 1, is a result of continued advocacy by the AMA and others who continue to object to the applicability of this Rule to health care providers and other professionals.

Since the Rule was issued, the AMA has objected to the FTC's interpretation that physician practices are "creditors" when they accept insurance and bill patients after services are provided or if they allow patients to set up payment plans after services have been provided. The FTC states that this delay is intended to "give creditors and financial institutions more time to review this guidance and develop and implement written Identity Theft Prevention Programs."

While the AMA intends to continue to make the case to Congress and the agency that the FTC should republish the rule so that there is sufficient opportunity to formally comment and state the AMA's objections to physician inclusion in the program, the AMA has prepared a guidance document, along with sample policies, so that members can incorporate a simple identity theft prevention and detection program into their existing compliance and HIPAA security and privacy policies.

Red Flags Rule Guidance Document [PDF FIle]
This informative resource addresses the following questions:

    * What is the purpose of the Red Flags Rule?
    * How do the rules differ from HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules?
    * Who has to comply with the Red Flags Rule?
    * What is a "Red Flag"?
    * How can physician practices comply with the Red Flags Rules?

Sample Policy [PDF FIle]
This resource includes simple, customizable policies and procedures to incorporate into your practice in order to comply with the requirements of the Red Flags Rule that entities have reasonable policies and procedures in place to identify, detect, and respond to Red Flags. Also included in this policy is the FTC's Identity Theft Affidavit, which can be used by patients who may be victims of identity theft.

AMA member's can access the Word version of the Sample policy [Requires Login] (Word Doc) and adapt it to their individual practice.

FTC's frequently asked questions about the Red Flags Rule.
"Fight Fraud with the Red Flags Rule: A How-To Guide for Businesses" [PDF File]

[microtone]

• Do you have a gun in your home?
• What religion are you?
• Do you have a smoke detector in your home?

At the risk of being accused of being a bigot, I give you the expedient and politically incorrect way of dealing with the slave mentality...

the answers are:

NO
JEWISH
YES

First, off there are some partially jewish kids in my family. But, i find that is a real jaw dropper. The best part about the holidays in New Hampshire is when some good citizen chastises you for saying 'merry christmass'. Well, a good old 'happy hanukkah' really silences them. Works very well with the salvation army folk working the kettle... anybody else out their into kabbalah or gematria ?

[Pat McCotter]

I had a difficult time going to temple. Have you ever heard of an Irish Jew?!

[Pat K]

I had a difficult time going to temple. Have you ever heard of an Irish Jew?!

"the Jews and Irish are a lot alike, Us Irish are just less focused"
Tommy Tiernan - Irish Comedian Video by Lizzie Sarah - MySpace Video

[Lloyd Danforth]

The Scotts taught the Jews frugality and taught the Irish to drink. My parents adopted my Jewish girlfriend and for years we had a Hanukkah Bush with a six sided star on top.

[microtone]

I had a difficult time going to temple. Have you ever heard of an Irish Jew?!

hey! i'm half irish and circumcised. do i qualify.

i inhaled and got high... what's the big deal ?

[KBCraig]

The Scotts taught the Jews frugality and taught the Irish to drink.

The Irish invented bagpipes, and the Scots have yet to figure out that it was a practical joke.

[Patrick]

Maybe he can help fix my aneurysm so I can go back to work.

Hi Pat!     Did you ever hear of this stuff called Heart and Body Extract?  It has cayenne pepper and other ingredients that are supposed to dissolve clog arteries and aneurysms too, I think.  If you google it, you'll find it.   Let me know what you think of it, if you decide to google it. 

Is there any peer-reviewed research that underlies the claim that cayenne dissolves arteries? I know it has many health benefits but have never heard that. I know there have been some "purge" diets that relied on vile cayenne/lemonade mixes. Their efficacy was never proven.

[Patrick]

• Do you have a gun in your home?
• What religion are you?
• Do you have a smoke detector in your home?

Answers:

1. we do have the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. Tis one of the sacred relics Bro. Maynard carries.
2.  Scientologist OT Level 8..so I really don't NEED medical care do I?
3. Yep...it's right over my indoor altar. dedicated to Tom Cruise.. Safety first.

[Tom Sawyer]

1. we do have the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

lol Gotta love someone with a Monty Python reference. With the added bonus of annoying Richard.  lol

[Russell Kanning]

crazy questions to ask
of course the dr. teaches gun safety ...... guns need to be safely in the hands of law enforcement

[Raineyrocks]

Maybe he can help fix my aneurysm so I can go back to work.

Hi Pat!     Did you ever hear of this stuff called Heart and Body Extract?  It has cayenne pepper and other ingredients that are supposed to dissolve clog arteries and aneurysms too, I think.  If you google it, you'll find it.   Let me know what you think of it, if you decide to google it. 

Is there any peer-reviewed research that underlies the claim that cayenne dissolves arteries? I know it has many health benefits but have never heard that. I know there have been some "purge" diets that relied on vile cayenne/lemonade mixes. Their efficacy was never proven.

I don't know if there are any peer-reviewed research studies about cayenne, if you want to just look it up.  I've read testemonies, (sp?), about it but I know that's not the same thing.

[cathleeninnh]

Cayenne is good stuff but I might have to lay off if it really does dissolve arteries.